what's the difference between a wireless card and a router?

Answer 1

A router is a device that you can purchase from Best Buy, Walmart or other stores that have an electronics center. The router is then hooked into your modem (another device, this one provided to you by your Internet Service Provider).

A wireless router takes the signal provided by the modem and broadcasts it so that any computer with a wireless card can at least see the signal, if not use it.

It is highly recommended that, unless you live in the middle of nowhere (as in, you can't even see houses or business when you look out any of your windows), that you protect your wireless signal with a secured password. Oftentimes, that instructions that come with your wireless router can also walk you through this step; alternatively, you could call the company that makes the router you purchases; or look on their website for more information. it is important to secure your network so that others can't use it to either spy on your personal information (such as credit card information) or use it for their own illegal activities (pornography, illegal downloading, etc) because their activity is occuring on YOUR account, so it would be your account that would be punished, not that individual.

Please also note that routers & wireless cards don't all run on the same signal. Research what type of signals your Internet Service Provider uses, then select your wireless router and wireless card based on this information.

Answer 2

Wireless card - you must mean a wireless adapter card that fits into your computer to provide access to a LAN or Internet. You need that to access a wireless router.

router - you must mean a Wireless Router. That is a device that connects a broadband (DSL or Cable) service to multiple and wireless computers. It establishes a LAN or Local Area Network so you can share files and printers between computers. For a computer with a wireless adapater card, you would want to enable the router's wireless capability and set the wireless security. For computers that have an ethernet port, you can run a wire to the wireless router, as it probably has 4 or more wired ports too.

You did not mention a Wireless Access Point. If you have a local area network (wired), you can create access to that wired network with a Wireless Access Point. Let's say that you have a large building. You can put several Wireless Access Points in the building, so people can get good reception everywhere. Some people hassle with stronger Antennas and have dead spots. But running wires with multiple access points is the best and most reliable way to go.

Good luck and Happy Computing!

Answer 3

The main point of wireless networking is "that you don't need wires."

A Router controls data traffic, security, etc.
An AccessPoint provides the wireless capabilities

A Wireless Router is simply a router and access point in one package.

A good "wireless router" can be had for as little as $60.00 and in some instances you can find rebate offers along with "free wireless card w/ router purchase" bargains.

Best bet...forget snaking cable and use a portion of the savings to grab a nice N or G class wireless router.

Answer 4

If you have multiple computers in your home but only one physical internet connection, then you can use a device called a router which will allow multiple computers to plug into and share that same internet connection. A router with wireless capability means that one can connect to it without physically plugging in to it. This is done via a wireless card. They come in different forms. Some desktop wireless cards fit inside your PCI slot, cards for laptops will simply side in and they also make USB wireless adapters that look just like a flash memory stick and can plug in to any USB slot to gain wireless capability and connect to the router.

Answer 5

A wireless card fits into your wireless capable computer to recieve wireless signals. A router transmits wireless signals to the wireless card

Answer 6

Yes, a wireless card or connection comes standard in most laptops now and enables you to connenct to Wifi ISPs. A router is for connecting computers on a system.

Answer 7

router gives more wired internet ports, and a wireless card connects to an access point.

Answer 8

router is the little box that sends the signal to your wireless card.

Answer 9

A router is the thing that routes, and the card is where the signal is routed to.

Answer 10

Everything....look it up they are totally different...